Merlin Award

The Merlin Award is given to magicians in recognition of their contributions to the performance and creation of magic around the world. While sometimes called the Academy Awards of magic, the Merlin Award lacks much of the oversight that enhance the credibility of awards in other industries.^[1]

The award was created by Tony Hassini and his International Magicians Society and is given out to invited guests at triennial banquets as well as in person by Hassini himself with greater frequency.^[2]

History

^[3] The award is intended to be a recognition for magicians who perform at the highest level of skills on national and international stages. Merlin award can be obtained in three ways.One is to attend Merlin Award banquet dinner on invitation, after being voted to receive the prize. Another is by participating and winning a Merlin Award competition organized by IMS and held in different countries. Third way is for the organizers to travel to the magician’s country to present the award there. The criteria considered are talent, showmanship, originality, skills, and an ability to entertain under any conditions.

Design

The award statue was commitioned to over 100 art students in a nationwide search. The winning design was created by Carol Michaud, a New York University art student, in 1968.

List of Merlin Award recipients

Below are the list of past recipients of the award.^[4]

2010 Awards details

Below are the details of 2010 edition of Merlin Awards:^[5]

• Florian Zimmer- Most Creative Magician
• Lu Chen- Most Original Magician
• Jeff McBride- Most Innovative Magic Show
• Eugene Burger- Close-Up Magician of The Year
• Harry Lorayne- Lifetime Achievement
• Juan Mayoral- Most Innovative Magic
• Deddy Corbuzier- Mentalist of The Year
• Marco Tempest- Best Contemporary Magician
• John Taylor- Illusionist of The Year
• Fukai- Outstanding Contributions to Magic
• Albert Tam- Outstanding Contributions to Magic
• Dirk Losander- Classic Magician of The Year
• Ernesto Planas- Most Charismatic Performer
• The Fercos Brothers- Best Magic With Exotic Animals
• Brad Ross- Best Family Entertainer
• David Koenig- Best Radio Magic
• Tony Clark & Paul Reder- Best Magic Show Producers
• Xavier Giro- First Place Most Original; Riga, Latvia Competition
• Timothy Trust- First Place Stage Magi; Riga, Latvia Competition
• Jimmy Kikuchi- First Place Cabaret Magic; Riga, Latvia Competition
• Fairy Star- Best Cultural Magic; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Competition
• Jorinn Chee- Best Female Magical Entertainer; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Competition
• Liong Ket Foei- Best Comedy Magic Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Competition
• Liu Guan Hua- President of Happy Valley Shenzhen, Best Magic Festival In China
• Ru Xian- Best Female Illusionist China
• Rizuki- Best Female Magician Indonesia
• Jeff Lee- Best Cabaret Magician Taiwan
• Tse Tow Joon Yeen- Best Close-Up Magician Brunei
• Louis Yan- Best Stage Magic Hong Kong
• Ali Raj- Best Family Magic Show Bangladesh
• Leow Fee Loong- Lifetime Achievement Malaysia
• Vincent Tan- Best Magic Organizer Malaysia
• Mamada- Best Family Magic Thailand
• Raymond Iong- Best Family Magic Show Macau
• Sergey Tsymbalist- Best Family Magic Show Ukraine
• Bone Ho- Best Manipulations Vietnam
• Joshua Jay- Outstanding Contributions to Magic Literature
• Bob Chua - Best Closeup Magician 2001
• Luca Volpe - Mentalist of the Year Europe 2013

2011 awards

Popular magicians & illusionists like Morgan Strebler, Dekhati Magin & Gopinath Muthukad are among the winners of 2011 awards announced recently.^[6][7][8]

2013 awards

In August of 2013, several magicians were honored with the coveted Merlin Award in Las Vegas. Johnny Thompson, Paul Vigil, and Morgan Strebler, where amoung those that received the award. In November 2013 Luca Volpe has been the first Italian Mentalist to receive the prestigious Merlin Award with the title of Mentalist of the Year Europe.

Controversy

Merlin Awards are not listed with either category or date:

"Sometimes, I am asked why don’t we publish the year and category for each magician’s Merlin Award on our website. The fact is that when the magician receives his award, during the press conference, we announce the category. Thereafter, it serves no purpose to publish the category or the year on our website. Because some categories might sound more glorious than the others, there’s no point of hyping or diminishing anyone’s award or the year they received it. And there’s no point in dating their awards either. The bottom line is everyone who received the Merlin Award is a Merlin Award Recipient period and is entitled to enjoy the glory for the rest of their life without dating or categorizing it.”,Tony Hassini

Some years the same award is presented several times to different people:

• ‘Close Up Magician of the Year 2010′ went to both Eugene Burger and Tse Tow Joon Yeen
• ‘Female Magician of the Year 2008′ went to Arian Black and Bambi Van Burch.

‘*Illusionist of the Decade’ went to Luis deMatos 2010, Joe Labero 2009, and Franz Harary in 2004.

At other times there are categories which seem extremely similar:

• 2008 – ‘Fastest Quick Change Act in the World’/'Best Quick Change Act for 2008′
• 2008 – ‘Magician of the Year’/'Best Magician in the World’
• 2008 – ‘Best Stage Magician’/'Best International Stage Magician’.

But one controversy that stands above the rest is that of Bambi VanBurch.

Her husband Kirby VanBurch – Prince of Magic, had already won Merlin Awards for ‘Magician of the Year’ 1999 and ‘Entertainer of the Year’ 2001, and he in 2007 he received ‘Entertainer of the Year’ while Bambi was presented ‘Female Magician of the Year’ based on the illusions she was performing in the duo’s show.

In 2008, Bambi was again awarded ‘Female Magician of the Year’ – as was Arian Black – Princess of Magic.

In 2009 Bambi branched out with a solo show as ‘Bambi VanBurch – Princess of Magic, and was awarded ‘Female Magician of the Decade’. The presentation took place on June 8 and the mayor of Branson declared it ‘Bambi VanBurch day’. Kirby was also present according to this press report.

In August Kirby posted press releases that the two were separating due to “irreconcilable differences” and the long process of divorce began.

Shortly after that, a letter from Tony Hassini, President of the IMS appeared on Bambi VanBurch’s website. After some investigation Kirby said it was put up without his knowledge by a member of his staff. This letter stated that Mr Hassini had written to Kirby in June telling him that Bambi was copying other magicians presentations and must stop, and as she hadn’t, she would be stripped of her 2007 and 2008 Merlin Awards.

It also said that she must stop calling herself ‘Female Magician of the Decade’ as the title was never awarded to her by the IMS.

Speaking to iTricks Kirby said this was correct as his request to Tony to award her the Decade title was turned down.

Mr Hassini granted her the award in a letter in February, then denied it existed in a letter in October. Kirby said she didn’t get the award, the picture “must be doctored”, yet reports say he was present at the ceremony. Mr Hassini was revoking her awards because she was using copied material in her show, despite the fact that other Merlin Award winners do too. The Oct 21 letter implies that, in June, Kirby reassured Mr Hassini that Bambi was not using copied material, yet here Kirby claims Bambi was warned against using copied material, and she continued using it regardless. Yet sources say he created her show for her. ^[9]

References